Cement-block machine.



PATENTED AUG. 18,1908.

G S WERT CEMENT BLOCK MACHINE. v

PATENTED AUG. .1 8 1908. No 896,259 C. SLWEM v CEMENT BLOCK MACHINE APPLIOATIQN FILED FEB. 25, 1905. A 2 SHEETS Sangr a.

Aftorri'eys invntdr.

CYRUS S. WERT, OF KENDALLVILLE, INDIANA.

CEMENT-BLOCK MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented .Aug. 18, 1908..

Application filed February 25, 1905. Serial No. 247,360.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CYRUS S. WERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kendallville, in the county of Noble and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Cement-Block Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a cement block machine and, consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is a pers ective view of a cement block molding mac ine constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same showing the cores in position. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the machine with the cores in place. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the machine on the line4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the machine as arranged on the formation of smaller or specially shaped blocks. Fig. 6 is an elevation of one of the dividing plates employed in making a smaller block. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of one of the end plates of the mold showing the employment of an auxiliary filler to be used when the blocks are to be provided with recesses, as for instance, in the formation of joist receiving blocks. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of a finished block. Fig. 9 is a similar View of a portion of a oist receiving block.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The working parts of the apparatus are supported on a suitable frame 10 that preferably is formed of cast metal, and at one end of the frame is a fixed bed or table 11 that is provided with a pair of longitudinally disposed parallel ribs 12.

To the rear edge of the bed plate 11 is secured a back plate 13 of the mold, this being preferably secured in position as by bolts 14,

s so that when necessary it may be readily removed and a back plate of different size or contour substituted therefor. This back plate is provided with a plurality of openings 15, three of which are shown in the'present instance, these openings being designed for the passage of core members 16, all of which are secured to a common cross bar 17 that may be moved to and fro in order to introduoe the cores within the mold box or remove them therefrom.

T0 the front of the bed plate are secured pivot lugs or ears 18 which may be cast integral with the bed plate if desired, and to these are pivoted lugs 19 extending from the lower edge of the front plate 20. This front plate may be swung down from the vertical position shown in Fig. 1 to the approximatelyhorizontal position shown in Fig. 2, and in the latterv osition rests ona bracket 21 that projects fi om the frame or table of the machine.

To the opposite ends of the front plate are pivoted the end plates 23 of the mold box, and these may be swung from the vertical position shown in Fig. *3 to the approximately horizontal position shown in Fig. 1, and in the latter position the end plates rest on brackets 25 that project from the front plate 20. The opposite edges of the end lates 23 are rovided with recesses forming anges 25- 0 reduced width, and when in position one of the flanges fits against the end of the front plate, as Will be seen on reference to Fig. 3, while the o posite flange fits against the end of the bac plate, and is received by a bracket 26 carried by said back plate, the inner face of the bracket being inclined in order to exert a camming action on the flange and force the end late inward to proper position on the mold ox. Each end plate is provided with a plurality .of projections or core members 28 and 29, that extend on the inner face of the late within the recessed edges thereof, an are employed for the purpose of forming bonding recesses and air spaces in the ends of the blocks.

The front plate-20 forms-a support for a removable carrier plate 30 that is provided with openings 31 for the passage of the core members 16 and is-further provided with ribs or core members 32 for the formation of bonding recesses or grooves in the top or bottom of the finished block. This plate 30 has been termed the carrier plate for the reason that when the parts are turned to the position shown in Fig. 1, the plate forms a support for the block and is removed from the mold box together, with said block, and supports the latter until the cement has set, a separate plate 30 being placed in the machine at each operation. To avoid the necessity of auxiliary fastening devices for the plate 30, the end plates are "provided *withrecesses before mentioned, and it. will be noted, especially on reference to Fig. 3, that when the parts are in "position toforrn a' mold box, the ends of the plate 30 are received within the recesses, and the core mem{ bers carried by the endplates project from the ends of said'plate 30; and firmlyhold the When the m'old "is swungover so that the carrier plate assumes a horizontal position, the "opening 'of the end same in place.

plates will immediately release 'the carrier plate, and the latter'is free and may be readily removed together "with the block from the machine, and in this connection it is to be observed that the carrier plate and the front plateofthe-mold are sewnstructed that said carrier *plate may be freely moved outward from the bottom? plate 33 of the mold.

Thebottom plate 33'may be in the form of a cast metal plate,"or may be formed of other material, or coated or plated with a' non- 'corrodible 'material* in order to avoid oxidation, and consequent injury to 'the blocks. Theplate as shown-in thepresent instance is provided with a pair of marginal ribs 34 one attained than where the ornamental plate forms one of the sidewalls of the mold. The reason for this may be readily understood. Theplastic materialshoveled or oured into the moldmay be tamped doWn irectly-into all of the interstices of the ornamental face, andaside from this, 'the Weight of -all 0f the material which goes to form a block "will tend to firmly press the face to "be *ornamentedagainst' the bottom plate. A commercial block, however, could not be -manufactured if the ornamental bottom plate was removed along with the block and the latter. allowed 'to set, 'for the reason that unequal contraction or expansion of'the plastic mate'- rial would tend to destroythe-' ornamental face, and if the-cement set, -it-would be practically impossible to remove the ornamental bottom plate; and again the ex enseof furnishing a separate ornamental ottom' late for each block manufactured would ren er it im ossi'ble to produce the blocks at a reasonab ecost.

cores tomove from-a directline.

In orderto hold the parts of the mold assembled, each of the end plates is provided with a bracket 37, to which is pivoted a handleddocking lever 38, the latter bein enteredinarecess 39, there being one of sai recesses at each end of the back plate 13 of the mold. To move the mold to closed position, that'isffrom the position'shown in Fig. 1 to the *position 2 shown in the remaining figures of the drawing, it is merely necessary to grasp both handles 38 andfirst move the endplates up "to verticalposition and then swing' the 'whole'of the front'portion of the 'mold'on thepivotlugs18 until the flanges 25 of'theend "Walls are entered in brackets 26, i

afterwhichthe locking levers 38 may be turned and entered in the recess 39, firmly lockingthe parts in position andto open the mold, the operation is reversed, it being found in -praetice that theswingin of the moldto'turntheblock at-a right ang e to the 'molding position --and the opening of the plates may be made by a-pr-actically continuous movement.

' Inprder to avoid "strain on the pins'34 which support the bottom. plate 33, the lower ed'ges of the end plates are provided With lugs 40 tha't are'moved under the ends of thebottomplate-when the end-plates are closed, "and these lugs serve as supports for said bottom plate during the swinging movement of'the mold and block fromi the position -shown inFig.=2 to the position shown in Fig.

1, and on the reverse movement to effect the closing of the mold box.

'At a; oint near therear end of the frame is a cross 'ar 42h-aving an opening for the receptionof-a bar 43 that iszconnected at one endtothe crossbar 17 of the cores, and the under-side of "bar 43 is provided with rack teeth 45 which are engaged by a toothed segment' =46 carried by a transversely disposed shaft -47 =adapted tosuitablebearings on the frame of the machine. To one end ofthe may beturne'd-in -order 'to'move the' core members to=thefull line position shown in Fig. '2, or to the dotted line position shown in said 'figure.

-Intheresent machine the cores are designed to e' forced through-a portion of the plastic material= which isplaced in the mold before the cores are moved thereinto, and there is always more or less tendency of the this, the movement imparted through the shaft is secured an operating-lever 48*which To avoid segmental rack is practically direct, and an auxiliaryf guidi ng meansis employed in the form of a" pair of parallel. guide bars 149 that extend throughsuitable openings also formed I in the cross bar: 42 so"- that the cores cannot "be deflected froma straight course across the mold;

Itv will be observed on reference to Fig. 3

drawn to the that all of the core members are separately and detachably secured to the cross bar 17, and this is of importance in that it permits the removal of one or more of the cores 16 when it is desired to form sectional blocks, or blocks of any peculiar contour, such, for instance, as those used for gables, corner pieces for bay-windows, and like purposes. To assist in theformation of these sectional blocks, the back plate 13 and front plate 20 are provided with notches 52 for the reception of projecting ears 53 of division plates 54, and these plates may be arranged midway of the length of the mold, as shown in full lines in Fig. 5, or at any other intermediate oint either transversely of the mold, or in a irection oblique to the longitudinal plane of the mold, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5. When these sectional blocks are to be formed, the ordinary bottom plate 33 is removed, and an auxiliary plate 33 is employed, the auxiliary plate being provided with notches or grooves 56 for the reception of the lower edge of the division plate. When these blocks are formed, it is impossible in some cases to use all of the cores, and the detachability of the cores is of especial value in this respect. In the position shown in Fig. 5, two of the cores have been removed and the openings of the rear walls filled up'by blocks or plates 58, while a single core member is shown in readiness to operate at the right of the mold box.

In some cases it may be desired to form a block with recesses for the reception of joist or other floor supporting devices, and for this pur ose auxiliary filler strips 70 are secured to t e end plates, as shown in Fig. 7. This forms a recess at the end of each block, and when two blocks are in alinement in the same course, a recess of sufiicient width will be formed to, receive the end of a joist or the like.

In the operation of the machine, the parts are placed in the position shown in Fig. 2, with the exception that the cores 16 are withposition shown by dotted lines in said figure. The plastic material is then placed in the mold box up to a level about mid-way of the horizontal plane of the cores, and is partly tamped in order to force the material down into the interstices of the ornamental bottom plate. The handled crank 48 is then operated and the cores are forced in to the position shown in Fig. 2, forcing their way through the plastic material, and the ends of the cores entering the openings 31 formed in the carrier plate 30 for the purpose, so that both ends of the cores will be firmly held in place. The mold box is then filled up with plastic material, and, after tampin the excess material is struck off and the bloc is ready to be removed. The cores are now withdrawn by reversing the movement of the crank 48, and the locking levers 38 are then the block, is removed from the machine, and. inserted in readiness another carrier plate for a second operation.

In the formation of blocks of this class, it is usual to employ two air chambers spaced by a central web or partition extending transversely of the block and of considerable weight, and in the removal of the block from the machine and in subsequent handling, it is found that the excessive Weight caused by this Web at the center of the block often results in cracking or. other injury. To avoid this, the machine forming the subject of the present invention is designed to manufacture blocks having somewhat smaller air chambers spaced by webs that are so arranged as to more evenly distribute the weight, and

thus avoid danger of injury to the block during handling. It will be further observed that the blocks are provided with bonding grooves on both ends, and on either the top or bottom, so that after the mortar has set, it will be practically impossible to dislodge them, and at the same time the upper and lower faces of the block are of extensive area in order that the mortarbond may be sufficient to firmly hold the blocks in place.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a machine for molding blocks of plastic material, the combination With a back plate, of a pivotally-mounted front plate having a plurality of projecting pins, a detachable bottom plate having openings for the reception of said pins, end plates pivoted to the front plate, and lugs projecting from said end plates and serving by engagement with the bottom plate to support the same during its movement to and from molding position.

2. In a machine for molding blocks of plastic material, the combination with a back plate having cam-faced brackets, of a pivoted front plate, a bottom plate carried thereby, and end plates pivoted to the front plate, said end plates having reduced flanges adapted to be engaged by the cam faces of said brackets.

tic material, the combination with a rigid backplate having cam-faced brackets, of a pivoted front plate, a bottom plate supportthe brackets and forced to closed position, and locking levers'carried by said end plates ed'thereby, end plates pivoted to the front In testimony that l claim the foregoing as plate and having reduced flanges at its oppomy own, I have hereto afl'lXed my signaturesite edges, the flanges 0f the free ends of said l in the presence of tWo Witnesses. end plates being engaged by the cam faces of CYRUS S. WERT Witnesses:

J. H. JOOHUM, Jr., J. Ross COLHOUN.

and sewing to engage the rigid back plate. 

